Our History
See how SEVENTEEN years of hard work and determination resulted in the Russell Tree Experts you know today!
2004
Joe and Shari meet while studying at OSU, both in Landscape Horticulture. They meet as Mayhew Scholars, a scholarship program. Through the program they get to know each other while working at the Chadwick Arboretum on campus.
2005
Joe and Shari drive to Illinois to pick up a chipper he bought on eBay, nicknamed the “The Chuck-n-Duck”
Russell Tree Service (The original name of the company) collects the needed tools for the job!
2006
Company is renamed to Russell Tree Experts ltd. and new logo is revealed
First two employees are hired
2007
First website is launched
2008
First bucket truck is purchased
Plant Health Care services begin
RTE has four employees
2009
Services are expanded to municipal clients
2010
Redesigned website is launched
Truck fleet expands to four in production
We take up official residence at 3427 E Dublin-Granville Rd in Westerville, Ohio
2011
Office staff hired
First disaster relief crew is dispatched to Hurricane Irene
We accept the Angie’s List Super Service Award for the 5th year in a row
2012
First grapple truck joins the fleet
Disaster relief crew is dispatched to Hurricane Sandy
2013
Joe is elected Vice President of the Ohio Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
Our 13th truck joins the fleet
Our staff reaches 16 employees with eight ISA Certified Arborists
Redesigned website is launched
2014
Disaster relief team dispatched to Georgia ice storm
Shop/truck garage is constructed at the Russell Tree Experts home office
2015
Disaster relief team dispatched to California wild fires
2016
Disaster relief team dispatched to Hurricane Matthew (Florida)
2017
Disaster relief team dispatched to Hurricane Irma (Florida)
Redesigned, mobile-friendly website launched
Educational resource ARBOR ED™ is launched
Russell Tree Experts hosts first “Open Climb” inviting the public to try their hand at tree climbing
2018
Three Russell Tree Experts arborists compete in the Ohio Chapter ISA Tree Climbing Competition in Columbus, Ohio
TREE FOR A TREE® program is launched
Sponsors the Columbus Clippers’ “Arbor Day Game” and gives away 5,000 trees to attendees
Russell Tree Experts hosts RTE18, a tree climbing celebration and competition
TCIA awards us the Professional Communications Award for outstanding newsletter/blog
Disaster relief team dispatched to Hurricane Florence
José Fernández holds first ARBOR ED™ tree ID workshop
250 trees are planted at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park by the TREE FOR A TREE® program
2019
To celebrate Arbor Day, 5,000 trees are planted for the TREE FOR A TREE® program
Street tree pruning crew is deployed to Point Pleasant, West Virginia
